Penalty heartbreak for Moneygall in Munster Junior Cup

SOCCER: MIG.ie Munster Junior Cup Round 5

Moneygall 1

Portlaw United 1

(After Extra Time, Portlaw win 4-3 on penalties)

Report: Gary Culbert in Moneygall

Photos: Odhran Ducie

Moneygall were just minutes away from victory and a place in the quarter finals of the Munster Junior Cup on Saturday, but a 90th minute equalizer from Portlaw United forced extra time and ultimately penalties, and having won three shootouts already this season, luck unfortunately ran out on the NT&DL side.

Due to the swirling cross-wind, this was far from a beautiful game of football. In times gone by this would have been a big problem for Moneygall, but with Julian Camilo Bentancourt Pava in goals, Gearoid Larkin in central defensive midfield, and Niall Maher up top there is a there is a real strong spine to Billy Hayes side, and they were more than happy to get stuck into Portlaw.

Dogged and determined in the tackle, Kevin Fitzgerald and Dylan Maher were very easy on the eye in central midfield as part of the 4-3-3 formation, indeed it was the latter who sent Sean Moroney through in the thirteenth minute for what would turn out to be the only clearcut chance of the game. Moroney probably had too much time and the chance went a begging, but crucially the young Tipp outfit did open the scoring while they had the wind on their backs.

Again, it was Dylan Maher who posed the question, with a teasing through-ball for the ever-willing Aodhan Ryan, whose presence forced a calamitous Portlaw back-pass, which resulted in an indirect free-kick inside the box and the opener just before the break for Ryan.

Moneygall went in ahead at the break following a fairly even first half. They came out in the second half intent to keep possession and take the sting out of the game but were unable to breach the Portlaw press on the greasy pitch, and invertedly invited a succession of corners onto themselves that somehow did not end up in the net.

With the help of the woodwork, Julian Camilo Bentancourt Pava did extremely well to paw out two corners that were whipped right into the top corner at the near post, whilst Dylan Hogan was in the right place at the right time to clear another off the line.

Niall Maher provided crucial moments of respite during the second half onslaught, winning headers that he had no right to get to, but it was very much one way traffic towards the Moneygall goal.

As the 90th minute approached, the Portlaw players were frustrated and the feeling around the ground was that the home side had weathered the worst of the storm.

However, Moneygall were left with their heads in their hands when the youngest player Samuel Deevy lurked at the back post before nipping in front of Michael Ryan to prod home a 90th minute equaliser and force extra time and ultimately penalties.

In extra time, the Waterford men hit the crossbar for a third time and were denied by more fine goalkeeping from Camilo Bentancourt Pava. The Colombian keeper concluded a player of the match display by saving two penalties in the shootout, but in the end it was a bridge too far for the footballing gods to grant Moneygall their fourth shootout win of the season, ending an exciting run for Billy Hayes’ young side in the Munster Junior Cup.

Player of the Match: Julian Camilo Bentancourt Pava (Moneygall)

Moneygall FC: Julian Camilo Bentancourt Pava; Cian Ryan, Michael Ryan, Cameron Fleming, Dylan Hogan, Gearoid Larkin, Dylan Maher, Kevin Fitzgerald, Niall Maher, Aodhan Ryan, Sean Moroney.

Subs: Dylan McCormack for Moroney (75); Cian McLoughlin for A Ryan (82); Jack Lee for M Ryan (15 ET).

Portlaw United: Stefan McCurley; Eoghan O’Brien, Peter Woods, Darryl Walsh, Mark Morahan, Tighearnan King, Darren Rockett, John Power, John Dee, Michael O’Connor, Jordan Myler.

Subs: Alfie Keane for Dee (50); Samuel Deevy for Morahan (70); Sam Croke for O’Connor (85); Jack Kennedy for Keane (15 ET).

Referee: Robbie Nevin.